Danzo, who stood silently to the side, felt his eyelids twitch faster with each passing second.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darkened as he examined the mission scroll in his hands.
How could a simple patrol assignment possibly require the strength of a jōnin like Aoyama Ryuyun?
Moreover—Hiruzen couldn't recall ever authorizing such a mission at all.
In the entire village, there was only one man bold enough to issue missions under his authority without permission—Danzo Shimura.
"Ryuyun, return home for now," Hiruzen said slowly, his tone calm but weighted with authority. "I'll personally investigate this matter."
As expected of the Third Hokage, even under suspicion and irritation, his composure remained steady.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Ryuyun smiled faintly. His goal had already been accomplished; there was no reason to linger.
Just as he reached the door, Hiruzen added, "And Ryuyun—this matter is classified. I trust you'll keep it confidential."
"Of course, Hokage-sama. You have my word."
Ryuyun's smile widened subtly as he nodded and left the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen, unaware of the smirk's true meaning, only felt further satisfied with Ryuyun's apparent loyalty.
But the moment the young swordsman was gone, the "benevolent" expression vanished from the Hokage's face.
He turned sharply toward Danzo, eyes narrowing to slits.
"Danzo… don't you think you owe me an explanation?"
If Hiruzen couldn't see through Danzo's scheme by now, he wouldn't be worthy of being Hokage.
It was obvious—Danzo had issued the false mission to lure Aoyama Ryuyun into joining Root.
Unfortunately for him, he had underestimated Ryuyun's skill.
"There's nothing to explain," Danzo replied coldly. "Everything I've done has been for Konoha."
It wasn't the first time Danzo had crossed the line, and as always, he stood firm beneath Hiruzen's glare—expressionless, righteous, and utterly shameless.
"I can overlook your other excesses," Hiruzen said icily, "but issuing a mission under my name? You've overstepped, Danzo."
Hiruzen Sarutobi could forgive many things, but not challenges to his authority as Hokage.
He knew Danzo's ambitions well—his lifelong desire for the Hokage's seat.
And while Hiruzen tolerated Danzo's "dark side of the village," there were limits.
This was one of them.
"I'll say this only once," Hiruzen said, voice low but firm. "If this ever happens again, I'll disband Root myself."
Though Root was technically Danzo's personal faction, Hiruzen's word could erase it with a single decree.
"I understand," Danzo replied through clenched teeth.
A storm brewed behind his single visible eye—rage not only toward Aoyama Ryuyun, but toward Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
Without another word, Danzo turned and walked out of the office, his bandaged hand trembling with restrained fury.
---
Scene Transition
When Aoyama Ryuyun returned home, Senju Tsunade and Kurenai Yuhi were already waiting for him.
"Brother Ryuyun!"
Kurenai ran over, eyes full of worry.
Though Tsunade remained seated, her shoulders relaxed the moment she saw him unharmed.
"That damned dog, Danzo," Tsunade muttered, cracking her knuckles. "One of these days, I'll beat him into the ground."
Her anger was barely restrained. That Danzo would dare target Ryuyun so openly—without even attempting to conceal it—infuriated her.
"You?" Ryuyun smirked. "You've never had enough pull in the village to make him flinch."
"Tch. Still as infuriating as ever."
She glared at him, half annoyed, half relieved.
"Brother Ryuyun, are you hurt?" Kurenai asked, stepping closer, her voice soft with concern.
"Don't worry," he said, ruffling her hair with a gentle smile. "I'm fine."
Setting aside his twin swords, Ryuyun looked toward Tsunade.
"Kato Dan won't trouble you again."
"…What?"
For a moment, Tsunade didn't understand. Then the realization struck.
"Kato Dan… he was one of Danzo's people?"
Ryuyun chuckled. "You're quicker than I thought."
"Go to hell!" Tsunade snapped, rolling her eyes. But his words left her momentarily speechless.
She wasn't naive—she knew Ryuyun didn't act without cause.
If Kato Dan had been among those who attacked him, it meant the man was connected to Root.
Otherwise, why would he have risked confronting Ryuyun at all?
"Well," Tsunade said finally, leaning back and exhaling, "at least I can relax now."
She'd never cared much for Kato Dan's constant advances.
The fly buzzing around her was finally gone—
and for the first time in weeks, the house felt peaceful.
"I just hope it stays that way," she murmured.
Ryuyun didn't respond, only gave her a quiet glance.
For a while, peace did seem to settle over Konoha—and even across the shinobi world.
But peace in their world never lasted long.
Because that very same day—
news spread like wildfire through the village:
Konoha's White Fang, Sakumo Hatake, had taken his own life.
The announcement sent shockwaves through Konoha.
A jōnin of Kage-level power, who had survived countless battles,
dead by his own hand—
it was unthinkable.
The villagers who had once mocked him for "betraying the mission" fell silent.
Their idle gossip now felt like blood on their tongues.
"Are we… the ones who killed him?" someone whispered.
Had their words driven the White Fang of Konoha to his death?
The village, once bustling, fell into a heavy, suffocating quiet.